Only US flag will fly at Six Flags over Texas parks

Critics say it's time for Texas to take down the monuments to the Civil War and to ease racial tension and to showcase the state in a more inclusive light. Defenders argue that such a move seeks to erase a vital part of Texas history.
Wochit

The amusement park chain says it wants to "focus on celebrating the things that unite us versus those that divide us."

Six Flags will no longer fly the six flags over Texas. Only the U.S. flag will fly at the Arlington amusement park.(Photo: Keith Rowberry)

The state’s most iconic amusement park, Six Flags Over Texas, scuttled its 56-year tradition Friday of flying the emblems of all the nations that had reigned over the Lone Star State amid growing criticism of reminders of the Confederacy.

The park, which has affiliated theme parks across the country, will now fly only the American flag on its properties, a company representative said in a statement to news outlets.

“We always choose to focus on celebrating the things that unite us versus those that divide us," said spokeswoman Sharon Parker. "As such, we have changed the flag displays in our park to feature American flags."

The decision came one day after Six Flags said it would not take down the Confederate flag in response to deadly attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend during a demonstration against monuments to the Civil War.

Since its 1961 opening in Arlington just south of what is now Interstate 30 between Dallas and Fort Worth, Six Flags displayed the flags of Spain, France, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, the United States and the Confederate states.

The confederate flag is not the same as the more controversial battle flag, with a star-studded blue X crossing a red field. The battle flag has long been criticized as a symbol of white supremacy and intimidation.

John C. Moritz covers Texas government and politics for the USA Today Network in Austin. Contact him at John.Moritz@caller.com and follow him on Twitter @JohnnieMo.